WALSALL'S dwindling band of supporters, doggedly flying in the face of reason and recent form, turned up at three in search of hope.

But by five it was hard to pluck any - not even a scrap - from a performance which offered only further evidence that the Saddlers' freefall towards relegation is inexorable.

Kevan Broadhurst was appointed manager six weeks ago on the strength of some great escapes on his CV - his reputation as a footballing Houdini.

Well, even Houdini bit off more than he could chew in the end, his appendix shattering after inviting someone to punch him in the stomach.

Houdini, of course, only had to look after himself. Broadhurst has to revive an entire playing-staff, many of whom, worn down by a turbulent season, look resigned to their fate.

There's still hope. But Walsall, one win in 15 league games now, must win three, probably four, of their last six. These confidence-drained players might be capable of that but, if so, they hid it well on Saturday.

It might have been different had Pablo Mills taken a 14th-minute chance which he headed straight at goalkeeper Adriano Basso. Nothing injects confidence like a goal, although judging by the last home game (a 2-2 draw from 2-0 up against Bradford) even goals cannot instil belief into this ailing group.

Instead, after a disinterested start, City started to flow. And Dave Cotterill, a young academy product and fringe squad member, started to look like Thierry Henry. He ran the Saddlers' defence ragged and, denied once by Andy Oakes, broke through on 42 minutes, firing home after stepping round an anaemic challenge from Mark Wright.

That summed up Wright's afternoon. Just before Paul Merson was sacked as Saddlers boss in February, Wright rejected a new contract. His agent must have something tasty lined up already because, on recent evidence, clubs won't be forming a queue for his services.

Another who has struggled badly of late is Ian Roper and it was his woefully mistimed tackle on Cotterill, five minutes after half-time, that allowed Alex Russell to convert the penalty which settled matters.

Walsall's fans showed restraint, although the withdrawal of striker James Constable, who put himself about as effectively as possible considering the lack of service to him, provoked an angry response.

Michael Leary had a 73rd-minute header cleared off the line but no sustained pressure was put on City. Instead the visitors flowed forward through the space galore between Walsall's defence and midfield.

Two great saves by Oakes kept the margin down but Richard Keogh's injury-time header rounded off the misery. Not many - on or off the pitch - looked like they believe Walsall can turn this collapse round.